Hit the LIKE button for MPK 20: This is how Facebook’s new 4,30,000 sq ft office looks like

What started off as a casual venture in a small hostel room has now moved to a 4,30,000 sq ft complex in California. Social networking site Facebook shifted to the sprawling space recently that has been designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry.

The new Facebook building, called MPK 20, boasts of sweeping murals and art installations, along with a nine-acre roof garden.

Fifteen local artists, including famous sculpture-maker Evan Shively, have already contributed to MPK 20 and more are to follow. The roof, about 70 feet up, offers a winding walk through nine acres of complete greenery.

According to architect Gehry, “Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg wanted a space that was unassuming, matter-of-fact and cost effective.” Gehry added, “He did not want it overly designed.”

The interior is one giant space – a kind of space that can be used for creative exchange.

“It reinforces our open and transparent culture,” John Tenanes, Facebook Vice President of global real estate, was quoted as saying.

Though it stands on the other side of an expressway, the new building is meant as an extension of the company’s current headquarters.

Whether it is just working in the Number 1 social media company or spending the day at a magnificently breathtaking garden, the 2,800 Facebook employees have yet another reason to hit the “Like” button.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has announced a fresh investigation into Facebook, a day after the social networking giant admitted another security breach where nearly 6.8 million users risked their private photos being exposed to third-party apps.

Facebook, which is already facing a probe from the Irish watchdog for a previous privacy leak in September that affected 50 million people, may end up with fine of 4 per cent of its annual turnover – the highest fine under the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), The Independent reported on Saturday.

In Facebook’s case, the fine could amount to nearly 1.5 billion euros.

“The Irish DPC has received a number of breach notifications from Facebook since the introduction of the GDPR on May 25, 2018,” a spokesperson for the watchdog was quoted as saying.

The fresh move came after Facebook on Friday said more than 1,500 apps built by 876 developers may have also been affected by the bug that exposed users’ unshared photos during a 12-day-period from September 13 to 25.

Facebook, in a statement, said it has fixed the breach and will roll out next week “tools for app developers that will allow them to determine which people using their app might be impacted by this bug”.

“Currently, we believe this may have affected up to 6.8 million users and up to 1,500 apps built by 876 developers. The only apps affected by this bug were ones that Facebook approved to access the photos API and that individuals had authorised to access their photos.

This photo shows a Facebook app icon on a smartphone in New York. VOA

“We’re sorry this happened,” said Facebook, adding that it will also notify the people potentially impacted by this bug via an alert.

The disclosure is another example of Facebook’s failure to properly protect users’ privacy that may drew more criticism of its privacy policy.

“The investigation will examine Facebook’s compliance with its obligation under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure the security and safeguarding of the personal data it processes,” said the DPC.

The world’s largest social media network has been grilled over the past year for its mishandling of user data, including its involvement in a privacy scandal in March when Cambridge Analytica, a British political consultancy firm, was accused of illegally accessing the data of more than 87 million Facebook users without their consent.

The private information of Facebook users was alleged to be used to influence the US 2016 general elections in favour of President Donald Trump’s campaign. (IANS)